President Bola Tinubu has authorised a 50 per cent reduction in the fares that commercial buses charge on interstate routes during the Yuletide season.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake, announced the cut on Wednesday.
According to him, the effort is a presidential intervention aimed at offering relief to the poor during the holiday season.
He said, “President Bola Tinubu, in another demonstration of his love for Nigerians, has approved that the Federal Government should intervene to bring down the cost of public transport to allow our compatriots who want to travel to visit their loved ones and hometowns to do so without stress and the extra burden imposed by the high cost of transport around this period.”
Acknowledging the tradition of increased travel during Christmas and the end of the year, Alake emphasized the President’s awareness of the recent surge in the cost of inter-state transportation and air travel.
This reduction in transportation fares is expected to alleviate the financial burden on individuals wishing to travel during this period.
The minister further revealed that all train routes would be free from Thursday, December 21, 2023, to January 4, 2024. However, air transportation is exempted as it is considered for privileged individuals.
“The President is well aware of the recent increase in the cost of inter-state transportation and even for air travel. Traditionally, our people love to travel during Christmas and end of the year to be with families and friends, and this has been the practice for ages,” Alake added.
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